Vale Raz.

Ballina Rugby Club joins with the broader Ballina Community in mourning the loss of one of its favourite sons, Lyn “Raz” Burtonwood.

Raz’s passion for living life to the full came to an unfortunate end last Saturday 16th February, doing what he loved, cracking a wave at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach.

Raz started playing for Ballina Rugby Union Club in 1982 and played over 100 games in all grades before retiring to the scoreboard in the mid 1990’s. He was an integral part of the Ballina Rugby Union Club touring teams to New Zealand in 1982 and in 1992 he was with us in Ireland, England and Wales, where he was rapt to find a brewery named after him!

A free spirit both on and off the field, it wasn’t a party without Raz (and his home brew). Raz was admired and respected by a broad cross section of the Ballina community through his involvement not only with rugby, but surf life saving, water polo, rugby league, cross country running and his ability to relate to his multitude of mathematics students over the years and the staff at Ballina High School.

He will be sorely missed. Ballina Rugby Club extends its deepest sympathies to Raz’s family.